Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon in Windows 11

WhenWhereWhyHow · May 29, 2024

LesFerch said:
I can't see how it can be related and if you use the option to switch back to the Windows 11 Explorer, it removes the keys it creates.

The utility does exactly the same registry entries as documented in the tutorial option 3.

I think the next logical troubleshooting step is to create a new local account (for test purposes), login with that account, and then see how it works.

Ah, good idea, I will try using another account first.

Thanks friend.

Autobahn · Jul 7, 2024

I don't know if one of these options is what I need?

The image below is what I had with W10.

I find the new look file explorer takes up a lot of room near the top.

Would one of the options at the beginning of this thread get me back to what I preferred in W10?

Brink · Jul 7, 2024

Autobahn said:
I don't know if one of these options is what I need?

The image below is what I had with W10.

View attachment 100790

I find the new look file explorer takes up a lot of room near the top.

Would one of the options get me back to what I preferred in W10?

Hello,

Your screenshot shows having the 3rd party "Classic Shell" (old) or "Open Shell" (new) app installed.

Classic Shell: Downloads

Welcome to Open-Shell

Classic Shell Reborn.

open-shell.github.io

Autobahn · Jul 7, 2024

Brink said:
Hello,

Your screenshot shows having the 3rd party "Classic Shell" (old) or "Open Shell" (new) app installed.

Classic Shell: Downloads

Welcome to Open-Shell

Classic Shell Reborn.

open-shell.github.io

Yes, I have open-shell installed and loaded my saved settings but it still doesn't look like it did with W10.
I'll do a bit more searching and see if I can find why.

LesFerch · Jul 7, 2024

Autobahn said:
I don't know if one of these options is what I need?

The image below is what I had with W10.

View attachment 100790

I find the new look file explorer takes up a lot of room near the top.

Would one of the options at the beginning of this thread get me back to what I preferred in W10?

It sounds like you haven't switched Explorer to the Windows 10 version on your Windows 11 machine. Use Option 3 or use the tool at the link below (it applies exactly the same registry entries).

SwitchExplorer

Switch Explorer between the Windows 11 version and the Windows 10 version

lesferch.github.io

Autobahn · Jul 8, 2024

LesFerch said:
It sounds like you haven't switched Explorer to the Windows 10 version on your Windows 11 machine. Use Option 3 or use the tool at the link below (it applies exactly the same registry entries).

SwitchExplorer

Switch Explorer between the Windows 11 version and the Windows 10 version

lesferch.github.io

Thanks for the link. I'm getting closer to having Windows 11 how I want it

soewhaty · Aug 1, 2024

Dear @Brink

Thanks for yet again another great tutorial on how to un-mess a messed-up Windows feature.

"Option Three" works in 23H2+, though sadly with one little caveat, which I hope u can help with. The wonderful Alt+D shortcut, which btw happens to work well in W11's Modern File Explorer, does not work any longer in the Classic File Explorer after one follows "Option Three". That's really sad cos it's a shortcut that has been in Windows since forever ago and it also works in most browsers etc. So how come it doesn't work? I've restarted after applying "Option Three". It basically moves focus to the address/URL bar and highlights it. I then use that to copy paths etc. It's great for speed and productivity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and ofc keep it the good work, as always :)

Brink · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
Dear @Brink

Thanks for yet again another great tutorial on how to un-mess a messed-up Windows feature.

"Option Three" works in 23H2+, though sadly with one little caveat, which I hope u can help with. The wonderful Alt+D shortcut, which btw happens to work well in W11's Modern File Explorer, does not work any longer in the Classic File Explorer after one follows "Option Three". That's really sad cos it's a shortcut that has been in Windows since forever ago and it also works in most browsers etc. So how come it doesn't work? I've restarted after applying "Option Three". It basically moves focus to the address/URL bar and highlights it. I then use that to copy paths etc. It's great for speed and productivity.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and ofc keep it the good work, as always :)

Hello, and welcome.

You should still be able to press the Ctrl + L keys instead to go to the address bar in the classic W10 style File Explorer.

soewhaty · Aug 1, 2024

Brink said:
Hello, and welcome.

You should still be able to press the Ctrl + L keys instead to go to the address bar in the classic W10 style File Explorer.

Spot on, thanks! Now just gotta undo 10-20 years of motor memory of using Alt+D and transition to Ctrl+L.

Gotta admit that Alt+D is way comfier than Ctrl+L. Saying it not only cos that's what I am used to but just objectively.

Really no way to recreate Alt+D???

LesFerch · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
Really no way to recreate Alt+D???

In theory, you could use AutoHotKey to redirect Alt-D to Ctrl-L. You would have to be careful to limit that redirection to only occur when an Explorer window is active.

soewhaty · Aug 1, 2024

LesFerch said:
In theory, you could use AutoHotKey to redirect Alt-D to Ctrl-L. You would have to be careful to limit that redirection to only occur when an Explorer window is active.

Good tip, 10x. Before I start asking ChatGPT about it, does anyone have any idea what the code for the script would be? I'm not coding myself so although it sounds simple to just "redirect Alt-D to Ctrl-L" I know it's not just that easy.

LesFerch · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
Good tip, 10x. Before I start asking ChatGPT about it, does anyone have any idea what the code for the script would be? I'm not coding myself so although it sounds simple to just "redirect Alt-D to Ctrl-L" I know it's not just that easy.

I don't code in AutoHotKey, but ChatGPT did produce code that looks sensible. This is what it gave me (I have not tested it):

Code:

#NoEnv  ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
SendMode Input  ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir%  ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.


!d:: ; Alt-D
    ; Check if the active window is an Explorer window
    IfWinActive ahk_class CabinetWClass
    {
        Send ^l  ; Send Ctrl-L
    }
    else
    {
        Send !d  ; Otherwise, send Alt-D
    }
return

Brink · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
Spot on, thanks! Now just gotta undo 10-20 years of motor memory of using Alt+D and transition to Ctrl+L.

Gotta admit that Alt+D is way comfier than Ctrl+L. Saying it not only cos that's what I am used to but just objectively.

Really no way to recreate Alt+D???

Another option is to use the "Remap a shortcut" feature in PowerToys Keyboard Manager like below.

Install Microsoft PowerToys in Windows 10 and Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to install the Microsoft PowerToys app in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft PowerToys is a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience for greater productivity. Microsoft PowerToys requirements: Supported Operating...

www.elevenforum.com

PowerToys Keyboard Manager utility for Windows

A utility that enables you to redefine keys on the keyboard

learn.microsoft.com

soewhaty · Aug 1, 2024

LesFerch said:
I don't code in AutoHotKey, but ChatGPT did produce code that looks sensible. This is what it gave me (I have not tested it):

Seems to work exactly as expected. Thanks. But come to think of it now, why did you say to limit the shortcut overlap to Explorer only? Thinking of some 3rd party apps or? I am trying to imagine a scenario where I am anywhere where I'd use Alt+D (which in my case is Explorer and Browser only) and that would create a mess if being overlapped to Ctrl+L. I can't think of anything, to be honest other than inadvertently hitting Alt+D and then that implying a Ctrl+L in a whatever app which might perform an unwanted action ... hmm

soewhaty · Aug 1, 2024

Brink said:
Another option is to use the "Remap a shortcut" feature in PowerToys Keyboard Manager like below.

Before I give this a try, I still have to ponder on the point @LesFerch made as to being careful with overlapping the shortcut elsewhere than in Explorer. I can sense danger.

Eventually I'll give PowerTools a try too, 10x. I used that little app once and it had so many strange settings by default that I ended up ditching it, not bothering to revert the odd default behaviour. From what I hear you say, it can EXPLICITLY remap a whole shortcut, which is the idea here and not just remapping keys, which is pointless in this context. Ever tried it and works solid?

LesFerch · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
Seems to work exactly as expected. Thanks. But come to think of it now, why did you say to limit the shortcut overlap to Explorer only? Thinking of some 3rd party apps or?

Yes, I was thinking of 3rd party apps. There's likely some app out there that uses Alt-D. If you're okay with Alt-D always being redirected to Ctrl-L, that's fine.

Brink · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
Before I give this a try, I still have to ponder on the point @LesFerch made as to being careful with overlapping the shortcut elsewhere than in Explorer. I can sense danger.

Eventually I'll give PowerTools a try too, 10x. I used that little app once and it had so many strange settings by default that I ended up ditching it, not bothering to revert the odd default behaviour. From what I hear you say, it can EXPLICITLY remap a whole shortcut, which is the idea here and not just remapping keys, which is pointless in this context. Ever tried it and works solid?

Correct. You can use it to globally remap only the shortcut and not the actual keys.

soewhaty · Aug 1, 2024

@Brink @LesFerch - thanks guys .. processing now. In any ways, happy to have the Classic Explorer back n running. It's great to have it "Display the full path in the title bar" such that the whole thing is visible. Who wouldn't use that like all the time in a work setup :)

Brink · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
@Brink @LesFerch - thanks guys .. processing now. In any ways, happy to have the Classic Explorer back n running. It's great to have it "Display the full path in the title bar" such that the whole thing is visible. Who wouldn't use that like all the time in a work setup :)

Glad we could help. :shawn:

hdmi · Aug 1, 2024

soewhaty said:
Thinking of some 3rd party apps or?

In Microsoft Word, Ctrl+L toggles the selected text between left align and justify, and, in Microsoft Excel, Ctrl+L opens the Create Table dialog window. So no, not just 3rd party apps.

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